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BURBANK — Washington is sixth in the nation in blueberry production, with farming of the fruit gaining popularity on the eastern side of the state.
The Tri-City Herald reports that an estimated 3,180 acres in Eastern Washington are dedicated to blueberries. That's up from 2,500 acres two years ago.
The crop traditionally has been grown in Western Washington, with Whatcom County leading the way.
Statewide, producers this year expect to harvest more than 90 million pounds of blueberries. Two years ago, statewide production was 28 million pounds.
Producers say the fruit's health benefits are driving up demand.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says blueberry production nationwide jumped from 143.6 million pounds in 2007 to 182.1 million pounds last year. North America's top producers are Michigan, British Columbia, Oregon, New Jersey and Georgia.
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Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com
